Ex-California ‘Teacher of the Year’ gets 30 years in prison for child sex crimes

A California judge on Friday sentenced a one-time San Diego County “Teacher of the Year” to 30 years behind bars for grooming two of her preteen students and having a sexual relationship with one of the boys.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Enrique Camarena said before sentencing that Jacqueline Ma, 36, was able to abuse the boys in “plain sight” because she traded in on her reputation as a “well-regarded and award-winning teacher.”

Ma pleaded guilty to lewd acts on a child and child pornography-related charges in February after she was originally arrested in early 2023. She won the “Teacher of the Year” award in 2022.

“I am speaking today because I am guilty of my crimes and I’m deeply ashamed of my actions,” a tearful Ma said in court Friday. “I violated my original commitment to be the kind of teacher all parents hope their children will have.”

“I ripped away their childhood,” Ma said. “Instead of following the path of what a teacher should be, I let my selfishness override the boys’ best interests.”

Neither the victims, who were 11 and 12 at the time of the abuse, nor their families attended the sentencing hearing.

Prosecutors shared a message from one of the mothers, who said she “cannot believe she trusted [Ma] and she is otherwise speechless.”

The former sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School was arrested in March 2023 after a parent suspected her son was having an inappropriate relationship with Ma.

Ma was initially released on bail following her arrest, but she was taken back into custody shortly afterward because prosecutors said they found explicit images of one of the boys.

Prosecutors said the misconduct went on for almost a year with one of the victims. Ma groomed the boys by buying them clothes, video games and other gifts to keep them close.

“Do not forget my underwear is in your pocket,” read a message between Ma and a former student, according to a detective’s 2023 court testimony. “I love you too, like I’m actually in love with you.”

According to court documents, Ma also instructed one of the boys to send his messages to her on “vanish” mode so they would eventually disappear.

Prosecutors said Ma had a classroom meeting with one of the boys in which she took off her shirt and tried to get close to him. The boy told authorities he became afraid and left.